U.S. athletes: eyes on the Olympic prize

U.S. athletes, eyes on the prize ahead of this year’s Summer Games in Brazil, have their own ways of enduring arduous training sessions or getting in the zone before a competition.

Music is a source of inspiration and motivation for athletes from swimmers to gymnasts, fencers to sitting volleyball players. Country music, hip-hop, R&B or hard rock - tastes are as varied as the Olympic sports they practise.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

"I just tell myself: work the plan, work the plan until the bitter, bitter end," says hurdler Dawn Harper-Nelson of her training. "God in Me" by Mary Mary is a song that plays over and over in her head, she says.

Silence is golden for others as they aim for the peak of their sporting form.

"I really like 90s hip-hop but I actually don't listen to music when I train or before a race,” says swimmer Natalie Coughlin. “I like the quiet in my own head."

(Text editing by Brian McGee)

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7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Swimmer Missy Franklin says she likes to listen to country music, and to worship music on the way to practice.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Swimmer Ryan Lochte.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

"I love the song 'I'm a Diva' by Beyonce because it's like my alter ego. I want to be the best and I have to get through this to do it," runner Allyson Felix says of her training sessions.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Rugby player Carlin Isles.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

"If I had a song I would play before competition it would be 'All I Do Is Win' by DJ Khaled," says hurdler Aries Merritt.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Gymnast Maggie Nichols.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Decathlete Ashton Eaton likes listening to the Nothing But Thieves song "Itch" for training inspiration.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Golfer Lexi Thompson likes to listen to hip hop and R&B before her rounds of golf, and hard rock in the gym.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Canoe slalom competitor Michal Smolen.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Gymnast Sam Mikulak's favourite artist to listen to during training is Kygo.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Gymnast Gaby Douglas.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Swimmer Natalie Coughlin.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

"I don't need to set a world record in practice," says swimmer Nathan Adrian. "I just need to do the best I can do that day."

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

Sitting volleyball Paralympian Bethany Zummo.

7 Mar 2016. Beverly Hills, United States. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

"I like listening to Chance the Rapper before I work out," says swimmer Conor Dwyer, who trains for 4-6 hours a day.